Torpedo-receptacle.



PATENTED DEC. '15, 1903.

J. B. BARNETT.

TORPEDO REUEPTACLE.

APPLICATION, FILED MAY 26, 1903-.

N0 MODEL.

Rye/afar 3 2/ dMH-oo 1 UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

P TENT OFFICE.

TORPEDO-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,313, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed May 26, 1903. Serial No.158,893. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. BARNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in torpedo-receptacles, and is adapted for use in connection with railway-lanterns.

In railroading it often becomes necessary to warn the engineer of an approaching train of trouble ahead or for numerous reasons to stop. Lanterns and torpedoes are employed for this purpose. The torpedoes are adapted to be clamped to the rail over which the approaching train must pass, whereby when the same are mashed on the rail by the wheel of the train an explosion and loud report is made. Different signals may thus be communicated to the engineer, according to the number of torpedoes placed on the rail. The torpedoes now in common use are provided with soft-metal clamping-arms, which take on the sides of the rail and clamp the torpedo thereon,and often railroad men when carrying the torpedoes secure them to the wire of their lanterns by twisting the softmetal arms around the wire frames. This is objectionable, because thereby the clainping-arms are often broken and rendered useless, and their unfitness for use is not discovered until the emergency arises. In some instances a railway-lantern is provided with fixed receptacles to receive the torpedoes; but this is also objectionable, because it increases the weight of the lantern when it is desired to use the lantern Without employing the torpedoes. This increasing of the weightof the lantern is caused by the fact that the receptacles are fixedly secured thereto.

The invention hereinafter more fully sets forth aims to overcome the objections hereinbefore set forth by constructing a removable receptacle to receive the torpedoes, said receptacle being adapted to be removably secured to the frame of the lantern.

The invention further aims to construct what may be termed an attachable torpedoreceptacle which can be readily attached and detached from any suitable support-for example, a railway'-lanteri1to construct a torpedo-receptacle which shall be extremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to'manufacture.

With the foregoing objects in View the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

' In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a front elevation of aportion of a lantern-frame, showing the torpedo-receptacle attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the torpedo-receptacle.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes a lantern-frame, the

upper portion of which is cut away and which is provided with a strengthening-brace 2. The frame 1 is formed of a series of ribs, and when the torpedo-receptacle is secured to the lantern-frame it is adapted to be arranged between a pair of the ribs which go up to form the frame and be secured in such position by means of a strap or wire spring 3, carried by the receptacle and a pair of studs formed on the bottom of the receptacle. The studs will be hereinafter referred to. The strap or wire spring 3 is adapted to engage the brace 2 for the lantern-frame and the studs are adapted to engage the lower brace 4, thereby securing the lantern to the frame.

The torpedo-receptacle is constructed of any suitable material, preferably metal, and its inner wall 5 substantially segmental in contour, its side walls 6 and 7 extending outwardly at an inclination, but awayfrom each other, and its front wall or door 8 substantially segmental in contour-that is, the same shape as the inner wall 5, but of greater length. The contour of the receptacle is substantially in the form of a quadrant. The door 8 is secured at one end to the side wall 7 by means of the hinges 9 and carries a strapspring 10, which is adapted to extend around a projection 11, carried on the side wall 6 for securing the door in its closing position. The.

strap-spring 10 is formed with a shoulder 12, so that when the door is in its closing position the shoulder 12 will engage the projection 11 and securely hold the door closed.

The torpedo-receptacle is provided with a bottom 13 and downwardly-converging top 14, over which projects the strap-spring 3, the latter having its lower end connected to the inner wall 5. The bottom 13 has secured to its lower face a pair of studs 15, which are adapted to engage the lower brace-rod of the frame and in connection with the strap-sprin g 3, the latter having its free end so constructed as to engage around the brace-rod 2, secure the receptacle to the frame. When it is desired to remove the receptacle, the free end of the spring 3 is pressed downwardly, thereby permitting the receptacle to be detached from the frame. The strap-spring and studs 15 when in their engaging position securely connect the receptacle to the frame.

It will be evident that by providing an attachable and detachable torpedo-receptacle for use in connection with railway-lamps that the railroad companies will be saved the loss of torpedoes, as they are generally fastened to the frame-wire of the lamp, and many of them are lost and not obtainable at any time when they are needed, while by the employment of the receptacle the torpedos are always obtainable and ready for use whenever a lamp is at hand, and when it is desired to dispense with the receptacles they can be readily detached from the lamp.

It is thought the many advantages of a torpedo-receptacle for use in connection with railway-lamps can be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction or to the exact contour of the receptacle, as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

whatl claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the frame of a lantern provided with braces, of a torpedo-receptacle extending in and provided with a pair of studs adapted to engage the lower brace of said frame, and means carried by the receptacle engaging said frame and coacting with said studs for detachably connecting the receptacle to the frame. I

2. In combination with the frame of a lantern provided with braces, of a quadrantshaped torpedo-receptacle extending in and provided with a pair of studs adapted to engage thelower brace of said frame, and means carried by the receptacle engaging said frame and coacting with said studs for detachably connecting the receptacle to the frame.

3. A detachable torpedo-receptacle comprising a converging top wall, a fiat bottom, side walls extending at an inclination, a segment-shaped rear wall, a door forming a front wall, a stud on one of the side walls, hinges for connecting the door to the other of the side walls, a strap-spring connected to the door and adapted to engage said stud for securing the door in its closing position, a pair of studs, in combination with a strap-spring coacting with said pair of studs for detachably connecting the receptacle to a suitable object.

4. A detachable torpedo-receptacle comprising top, bottom, rear and side walls and a door forming a front wall, a stud on one of the said walls, hinges for connecting the door to the other of the said walls, means connected to the door and engaging the said stud for securing the door in its closing position, studs on said bottom, and means carried by the rear wall and cooperating with the said studs for detachably securing said receptacle in position.

5. A torpedo-receptacle provided with a door, a pair of studs, and a spring having its lower end secured to the rear of the receptacle and its forward end projecting over the top of the receptacle, said studs and spring coacting with each other for detachably securing the receptacle to a suitable support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- JOHN B. BARNETT. Witnesses:

STANLEY T. LOWRY, R. L. SOHMERBEEP. 

